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MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 8, 2007 MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL The first regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2007 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Tammy Wilkinson presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. Members Present – Tammy Wilkinson, Roger Stetzler, Martha Bertolet, Elaine Swavely, Roy Heffner, Dale Schlenker, Jeanette Heckman Members Absent – None Also Present –Solicitor Mike Zubey, Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/ Recording Secretary, Mayor Del Rosario (7:35 P.M.) Visitors- Chief Michael Painter, Stephen DeLucas (Reading Eagle), Deena Kershner
ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, R. Heffner, D. Schlenker, J. HeckmanNAYES – None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE Deena Kershner was present to let Council know that a booklet has been put together with information regarding the Borough and surrounding areas. Councilwoman Heckman stated that the Hamburg Holiday tour was a great event. Deena stated that they sold 160 tickets. A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve the minutes of the December 27, 2006 meeting.ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, R. Heffner, D. Schlenker, J. HeckmanNAYES – None A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roger Stetzler to approve the following reports: Borough Manager’s Report, Public Works Supt. Report, Water/Sewer Supt. Report, Office Manager’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, Police Report, Code Enforcement reportROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, R. Heffner, D. Schlenker, J. HeckmanNAYES – None BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT DECEMBER, 2006 The Borough Manager’s activities for the month of DECEMBER, 2006 included the following: Held staff meetings with supervisors to discuss, provide and receive updates on various projects and issues taking place. Addressed complaints and other correspondence as needed. Met at various times of the month with John Leonforte to review various building projects and code enforcement issues he is working on, in particular, 4th and Hawkridge, the proposed access to Route 61. While the majority of the work at the pool has ceased for the winter, the contractor has been working on installation of some of the water features in both pools. The slides for the main pool may be done prior to spring, as long as the weather remains warm. Work on the canal is COMPLETE and in order. The contractor/crew did an excellent job. Significant time was again spent working on the Borough’s general budget, as well as the Authority’s water and sewer budgets for 2007, all of which will be adopted by the end of December. Spoke with Marita Kelly, Local Government Policy Specialist from the Governor’s Center regarding the Administrative study to provide additional information as she continues working on this study. It is hoped that a draft will be received shortly. Met with a representative from M & T bank to discuss the Tax Anticipation Note being processed for the Borough effective 1/1/07. Also discussed direct payroll deposit which will be considered at a later date. Guy Ketch, Rec. Director, Bill Nabozny, Asst. Rec. Director and I held interviews for the park and pool positions for the 2007 summer season. A recommendation will be forthcoming to the Personnel Committee. The hiring process will be ongoing until we have reached the total number of lifeguards/food stand help needed. Rick Pickel, Public Works Supt. And I toured the Borough so that he could show me upcoming projects he will be working on as well as to look at a problem on Northmont Avenue which could present a problem for snow plowing. I am in the process of contacting PennDOT for their input. Rick and I also interviewed for the public works position. We are down to two finalists and a decision will be made in early January and recommendation to Personnel Committee for hire. Met with a representative from EMC Insurance Company to review and update information for our 2007 liability insurance policy. Spent significant time working with the solicitor regarding police personnel issues. Also provided input and information to the solicitor in the preparation of the amended EMST tax and the Tax Ordinance for 2007. Enjoyed both a delicious breakfast by council and lunch by Kim in celebration of the Christmas holidays – as always, everything was great and enjoyed by all. During the month, attended two regular meetings of Council, Hamburg Municipal Authority, Recreation Board, Finance, Property, Personnel, and Safety Committee meetings. If anyone has any questions regarding my report, please feel free to ask. Attached with my report are the activities of my staff for the month of
December, 2006. Stones were put down on the greenway walkway. Our equipment was serviced, including changing oil in the backhoe. The crew also worked on the snow plows and salt spreaders, getting them ready for the season. Due to the new ordinance regarding stop signs on Church Street, we painted "STOP" on the street. The crew worked on the John Deere mowers for spring grass cutting. Continue to pick up leaves at the park, hopefully for the last time for the season. The crew constructed a gate for the fire lane at the park. Installation of the guard rails along the filter room at the pool has been completed. Removed the light standards and lights from the paving parking lot at State Street and Schuylkill Avenue. The crew spent time delivering EMST forms to the businesses. The brush was cut at the flood control dams. The crew spent some time conditioning the road around the dam at the reservoir. The canal project has been completed this month. The crew assisted the contractor with removal of trees etc. The crew spent some time painting the litter baskets around the borough. The shoulder of Pine Street was blacktopped. We started to change the street sign names and stop signs where needed. Respectfully submitted, Richard L. Pickel Public Works Supt. Water/Wastewater Superintendent’s Report December 2006 Water All water for the month was from the wells. We are expecting to receive bids for a new operating system for the treatment plant in mid January. There was a service line leak on the 29th, which required a temporary shut down of the 12 inch main on Mountain Road. Wastewater The construction is proceeding pretty much on schedule. The new electric service has been connected; the new generator has been installed and started. Piping has been installed to the oxidation ditch. The new clarifiers are complete and US Filter has given the OK for their use. We expect to make the tie in within the next few days. We continue to have settling difficulties but are controlling things with chemical addition. There were no violations to the December DMR. The new force main from the Edenburg Pumping Station has been installed and connected. We are fine-tuning the operation, however everything seems to be working as anticipated. Respectfully Submitted Keith L. Brobst Water/Wastewater Superintendent OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT The season ticket pamphlet that will be mailed to all previous season ticket holders was revamped. The season tickets were ordered and received for the 2007 summer season. Work was done on the accounting system to update the files with the auditor adjustments. More will have to be done in 2007. To prepare for the upcoming New Year, files were created, folders were cleared out, boxes were stored and organization was done to various filing cabinets. Various workmen’s compensation claims were received and were disseminated to the proper individuals. CANAL Project – On December 6, 2006 the work commenced with Schlouch as the contractor and our borough crew assisting in removing trees. The work was completed by December 11, 2006 and pictures were taken throughout the project. As soon as we receive all invoices and organization of the project is complete, I will be seeking reimbursement. I will be in contact with the various agencies involved in this project. A lot of work was done on the server for our computer system. I assisted Blue Mountain Computer on Saturday, December 9, 2006. Contacts were made once more to those businesses, which have delinquent EMST. To date, all but one of them have responded to our request for payment. Met with a representative from our insurance company regarding various information she needed for 2007. The web page and the municipal access channel continue to be updated. All quarterly reports were completed and year-end reports. W-2’s were printed and distributed. Spent time speaking with our computer software agent regarding issues relative to payroll, accounting and utility billing procedures. Attended the borough breakfast, as always it was delicious – thank you! In anticipation of the first payroll of 2007, all information was updated on the computer. The pool renovations fund was updated with all information necessary for the report. 2007 dog licenses are now available. 2006 dog licenses were closed out and sent back to the County. The board list and committee list for 2007 was amended and will be distributed at the next council meeting. The emergency listings for those residents who would need help during an emergency have been input into the computer and a final list prepared. All updates have been done in the EMA book and will be distributed shortly. The budget has been entered and the process of closing out 2006 has begun. Attended two Council meetings, one special Council meeting and staff meetings as necessary. Minutes were prepared for all the meetings.
HAMBURG BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 2006 ACTIVITY REPORT
Building, Zoning and Codes Report Three construction permits and four zoning permits and no paving/sidewalk permits were issued in December 2006. Major projects ongoing or proposed are as follows: Preliminary work continues, to reconstruct the curbing, sidewalks, and street at Catherine, Grandview Terrace, and Arthur st., with hope to ask for bids this fall for work to be done spring of 2007. Ricky and I have been meeting to determine an alternative to total reconstruction. The former Wrights building, at Pine and 2nd St, has been purchased and is being cleaned up, secured and repairs are being done. Preliminary plans for development have been shown to the planning commission.Work at the municipal pool is suspended for the winter. No delay in spring pool opening is anticipated. Survey work has begun for the proposed extension of Grand Street to Rte 61. Ryan Kern with Barry Issett associates has submitted a Penn Dot HOP application to place traffic light at Hawkridge and South 4th Street.Ricky and I have had discussions with Balfour Beatty, contractors working on I-78, to fill areas at the Dolly Hop site. A release has been signed and permitting is being applied for by BB.Exide has been in negotiation with EPA for clean up of the battery plant. A proposal is expected within 90 days. Inspections were completed for residential and light commercial, previously permitted, work in the borough. Property Maintenance complaints of rubbish, and Occupancy inspections continue to be addressed.OLD BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Elaine Swavely and seconded by Roy Heffner to reject all bids regarding the streetscape project and authorize that they be rebid. (This is being done based upon PennDOT’s finding that the bidder was not pre-qualified as necessary) ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None NEW BUSINESS Nothing A motion was made by Martha Bertolet and seconded by Roger Stetzler to approve payment of invoices totaling $213,071.90 ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, R. Heffner, D. Schlenker, J. HeckmanNAYES – None LIST OF BILLS AT & T 324.93 ALBRIGHT COLLEGE 400.00 BARKO CLEANING SERVICE 160.00 COUNTY OF BERKS 2,300.15 BERKS PRODUCTS 7,064.71 BERKS MONT NEWSPAPERS 549.12 ROY C. DEL ROSARIO 415.58 DELL 426.00 EMAC 39.00 EJB PAVING AND MATERIALS 335.77 EDENBURG WELDING 71.00 ENGLE-HAMBRIGHT & DAVIES 88.00 FORT DEARBORN 297.75 FOUR STAR ELECTRONICS 796.00 HAMBURG AUTO PARTS 34.18 KANTNERS 132.00 MIKE KERSHNER 141.95 MILLER MUNICIPAL SERVICE 956.00 MOORE WALLACE 177.72 MORGANRAIL 66.00 MOUNTAIN VIEW SUPPLY 106.35 PA STATE ASSC OF BOROUGHS 40.00 PPL GAS 1,593.85 PENN PRIDE 1,449.16 PENNSY SUPPLY 286.35 READING EAGLE 49.40 RANDALL RENTSCHLER 28.40 SA-SO 193.03 THREN’S AUTO PARTS 11.68 THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR 187.06 VERIZON 403.48 WINDSOR PRESS 174.87 WITMER ASSC. 4,249.44 ZEE MEDICAL 39.05 BILLS PAID DURING THE MONTH SAM’S CLUB 84.54 BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – GROSS 118,161.45 BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – SS/MEDI 5,411.23 HAMBURG SOCCER ASSC 150.00 MASANO BRADLEY 8,844.23 MET ED 2,072.51 BERKS CO. TREASURER 146.00 HAMBURG BORO POOL 575.37 HMA 1,633.92 M & T BANK 51,790.00 PETTY CASH 32.80 POSTMASTER OF HAMBURG 581.87 TOTAL FOR APPROVAL $213,071.90 SOLICITOR’S REPORT An executive session will be held to discuss police personnel issues. INFORMATION ITEMS January 9, 2007 – 3 p.m.- Property Committee (will be rescheduled) January 16, 2007 – 3:30 p.m. – Safety Committee January 16, 2007 – 7 p.m. – Planning Commission January 17, 2007 – 7 p.m. – Authority meeting January 22, 2007 – 7 p.m. – Water/Sewer/Public Relations meeting January 22, 2007 – 7:30 p.m. – Borough Council meeting January 9, 2007 – 6 p.m.- Library Board meeting (basement of Library) There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7: 45 p.m. on the motion of Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker.Attest: Kim Y. Berger,Recording Secretary/Office Manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
